Drug for enhancing liver growth and method of preparing same

Abstract

A factor which causes an increase in the number of liver cells through increased cell division activity, obtained by homogenizing the remaining livers of partially hepatectomized animals, subjecting the homogenate to acidification to pH=5.5 and then heat treatment at 95° C., and centrifuging said homogenate. After such treatment, the factor is contained in the supernatant. The factor is a neuraminic-acid-free protein with a molecular weight of approximately 30,000 to 50,000 D. An extract containing the factor also can be obtained from the blood plasma of hepatectomized animals, when the plasma in addition to the described steps further is treated with neuraminidase. Similarly, an extract containing the factor can be obtained from the livers or the plasma of non-hepatectomized fetal or very young animals.

1. A factor for stimulating the rate of proliferation of liver cells isolated by a process comprising the steps of, providing remaining livers from partially hepatectomized animals, homogenizing said remaining livers to provide a liver homogenate, acidifying said liver homogenate to a pH value of approximately 5.5, heat denaturing said acidified liver homogenate to a temperature of approximately 95° Centigrade, subsequently centrifuging said liver homogenate to provide a supernatant containing said factor, said factor exhibiting the characteristics of a neuraminic acid-free protein or proteide having a molecular weight of approximately 30,000 to 50,000 D which is stable at a pH level of 5.5 or 
     
     
       2. A factor for stimulating the rate of proliferation of liver cells isolated by a process comprising the steps of, providing the blood plasma of animals having partially hepatectomized livers, acidifying said blood plasma to a pH value of approximately 5.5, heat denaturing said acidified blood plasma homogenate to a temperature of approximately 95° Centigrade, subsequently centrifuging said blood plasma and treating the supernatant with neuraminidase to obtain said factor, said factor exhibiting the characteristics of a neuraminic acid-free protein or proteide having a molecular weight of approximately 30,000 to 50,000 D which is stable at a pH level of 5.5 or greater and at a temperature of 
     
     
       3. A factor for stimulating the rate of proliferation of liver cells isolated from livers of foetal animals or animals of the age of a few weeks by a process comprising homogenizing said livers to provide a liver homogenate, acidifying said liver homogenate to a pH value of approximately 5.5, heat denaturing said acidified liver homogenate to a temperature of approximately 95° Centigrade, subsequently centrifuging said liver homogenate to provide a supernatant containing the factor, said factor exhibiting the characteristics of a neuraminic acid-free protein or proteide having a molecular weight of approximately 30,000 to 50,000 D which is stable at a pH level of 5.5 or greater and at 
     
     
       4. A factor for stimulating the rate of proliferation of liver cells isolated by a process comprising the steps of, providing the blood plasma from foetal animals or from animals of the age of just a few weeks, acidifying said blood plasma to a pH value of approximately 5.5, heat denaturing said acidified blood plasma to a temperature of approximately 95° Centigrade, subsequently centrifuging said blood plasma and treating the supernatant with neuraminidase to obtain said factor, said factor exhibiting the characteristics of a neuraminic acidfree protein or proteide having a molecular weight of approximately 30,000 to 50,000 D which is stable at a pH level of 5.5 or greater and at a temperature of 
     
     
       5. A pharmaceutical composition containing the factor of claim 1 in a therapeutically effective amount and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier 
     
     
       6. A pharmaceutical composition containing the factor of claim 2 in a therapeutically effective amount and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier 
     
     
       7. A pharmaceutical composition containing the factor of claim 3 in a therapeutically effective amount and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier 
     
     
       8. A pharmaceutical composition containing the factor of claim 4 in a therapeutically effective amount and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier therefor.